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Gorilla grabs cash

The Nye County Sheriff's Office is on the lookout for a man who robbed the Quick Save Mini-Mart, located at 4760 S. Pahrump Valley Blvd., Monday, March 31, at approximately 9:45 p.m.

Richard Oliver, 45, was working his shift as the convenience store clerk when a white male wearing a gorilla mask and large gloves robbed him at gunpoint.

According to the sheriff's office press release, the suspect was holding what appears, from video surveillance, to be an unspecified semi-automatic weapon and demanded the money from both the register and the "drop box," or the box where gaming money is kept, both located beneath the store counter.

"The suspect was able to take the entire drop box drawer and was spilling money as he made his escape through the front door of the establishment," the sheriff's press release said.

The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.

Oliver reportedly heard a small vehicle leave the scene but according to the sheriff's office no description of the car was obtained.

The suspect is 6'2" to 6'4" and weighs roughly 200 pounds.

The sheriff's office is urging other convenience store clerks who work late nights to be alert and immediately report issues of concern.

Residents who may have any information are also urged to call the Nye County Sheriff's Office Detective Division or secret witness hotline.

The sheriff's office can be contacted at 775-751-7000.

Cash Car

BEATTY -- Maria Villananeda, 33, was found to be driving a Ford F-150 pick-up truck with more than the usual pocket change -- $750,111 in cash, to be exact-- stashed inside it Monday, April 1.

Villananeda was driving on Highway 95 when she was pulled over at mile marker 60 and First Street for speeding and not stopping at a stop sign.

Sheriff's Office Dep. Daniel Pineau, accompanied by his K-9 partner, Dep. Derek, approached the truck from which he reported he could "smell a strong odor of a masking agent."

The press release also said other unspecified "indicators of criminal activity" were present.

Villananeda was given a verbal warning and reportedly gave Pineau verbal and written consent to search the vehicle, and he and K-9 Derek began to do so.

The officers located a hidden compartment inside the vehicle above the transmission.

At that point, the truck was taken to the sheriff's office for a more thorough search.

Two more compartments, located in the driver's side and passenger side front fenders, were found stuffed with cold, hard, U.S. cash.

Villananeda said she did not know the money was there and did not claim ownership of the truck.

The money was seized and is awaiting forfeiture to the Nye County Sheriff's Office.

Pineau was assisted by Lt. Frank Jarvis, Highway Patrolman Chris Bennett, and Det.'s T. Meade and J. Powell of the sheriff's Scorpion task force.